The Trust's Nigel McKinney (Left) at the launch of the Fermanagh Trust's Community Energy Report.

Trust helps investment in Community Energy

24 February 2014

‘Allow local communities to take more control of their energy bills and transform the energy system’ – that was the message at a ‘Community Energy’ event at Parliament Buildings hosted by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment along with the Fermanagh Trust.

The community energy work being carried out by the Fermanagh Trust is supported and funded by the Building Change Trust, as part of their ongoing work to help the Northern Ireland Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise sector grow and develop.

MLAs and key stakeholders met to discuss the issue of community energy, a relatively new concept here which has received far greater attention in GB.

When looking at the distribution of community energy groups throughout the UK, Northern Ireland is very much underrepresented.

This is in spite of the fact that taking part in initiatives such as collective switching and collective purchasing schemes, not only allow people to take more control of their energy, but also save money on bills and tackle issues such as fuel poverty.

Lauri McCusker, Director of the Fermanagh Trust, who have taken a leadership role in this development said “Government is starting to consider the importance of this issue, which is good news because the development of renewable energy not only helps meet ambitious climate change targets but can generate substantial new economic activity if community energy is at the heart of the development.

“It is a hugely untapped area but with the right support this sector can grow and develop exponentially.

“DETI have committed to producing a community energy strategy. This event is an important contribution towards that strategy”.

The recent publication of the UK’s first Community Energy Strategy by the Department of Energy and Climate Change says the generation of energy by communities themselves could put pressure on energy suppliers to drive down prices, cut carbon emissions and diversify the UK’s energy mix.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) have been waiting for the release of this strategy to help formulate their action plan for Northern Ireland.

Guest speaker Will Dawson from the UK Community Energy Coalition said “It was great to see support from the Assembly, the industry and community organisation.

“It is key to commit to working together long term to make it happen. Community Energy Coalition, including the Fermanagh Trust is ready and willing to support a community energy revolution in Northern Ireland".

Patsy McGlone, MLA Chairman of the Assembly Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment said: “The Committee was delighted to host this stakeholder event with the Fermanagh Trust and hear from community energy specialists from throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

“Against the backdrop of climate change and rising fuel prices, community energy, when done sensitively with the support of local communities, presents an opportunity for us to reflect upon our relationship with energy".

Nigel McKinney, Building Change Trust Director of Operations, said: “We are delighted to see the work the Fermanagh Trust is carrying out and are excited to see where this important work will lead”.

The Building Change Trust is a charity registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC103379 , its corporate Trustee, Building Change Trust Limited is registered as a company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland NI071182

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